Alexander, a 21-year-old tourist, landed in legal trouble after allegedly posting fake negative reviews about a Phuket restaurant.
Alexander’s woes began when he attempted to use the restaurant as a shortcut to his home. However, he was denied entry because he wasn’t a customer.
Seeking revenge, Alexander allegedly rallied his friends to bombard the restaurant with one-star reviews, resulting in its once-impressive 4.8-star rating plummeting to a worrisome 3.1 out of 5 stars, as reported by the news outlet.
Driven by frustration over the avalanche of negative reviews and its potential repercussions for the business, the restaurant owner lodged a complaint. Subsequently, Alexander found himself apprehended by the Central Investigation Bureau at his recently acquired Bangkok residence.
The arrest warrant, issued last August, charges him with an unexpected offense: ‘entering false computer data likely to harm the public.
Despite maintaining his innocence, Alexander finds himself entangled in legal proceedings in Phuket. He was recently transferred to the Sakhu Police Station, where he faces the consequences.
In 2020, an American tourist visiting Phuket faced the harsh reality of Thailand’s stringent defamation laws. After posting a negative review on TripAdvisor, accusing a hotel of ‘modern-day slavery,’ the tourist found himself under arrest.
Although he was eventually released following an apology, this incident serves as a stark warning for online critics in Thailand. Even seemingly innocuous reviews can lead to severe repercussions, as defamation is considered a criminal offense punishable by up to two years in prison.
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